Mail-box.



PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908.-

N. SALTONSTALL.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED Dno.31,19o6.

' WTNESSES.

@MM Um @www UNITED STATES PATENT formen.

NATHANIL SALTONSTALL, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BX.

To all whmn 'it may concern.:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL SALTON- sTALL, a c'itizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. A

My invention relates to mail boxes made of sheet metal, and has, among other objects, to provide an exceedingly simple and con- 'venient mail receptacle capable of being asother similar fastening devices; whereby the hinged portion to the cover and box will be roof against the elements; whereby a sup-l plemental spring clasp for the reception of papers etc., can be easily and securely attached; and whereby the box parts may be nested in a knocked-down form to facilitate their being shipped in small compass and at little expense. 'These and other objects will hereinafter appear in the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein F1gure 1 represents a perspective View of my improved Inail box. Fig. 2 represents a pilan view of a blank for `forming the cover.

ig. 3 represents a detail side View of the A hinged connection between the lid and the box. Fig. 4 is a detail of a modified form of the `hinged portion. Fig. 5 is a detail side View of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is 'a detail longitudinal section of Fig. 5 on the line In the drawings, in which like marks of reference refer to corresponding parts through out the different views, A, represents the box, B, its lid or cover, C, the hinge, and D, -a supplemental' sprin .-wire paper-holding receptacle, or loop. he box by preference is rectangular in outline at its back portion, its

'front having a downwardly-sloping top and a receding downwardly-sloping bottom, -1. At the lower end of the box where the vfront and back are joined, they are interlocked by means of a roll bead, the curve, 2, of the front being received with the curve, 3, of the back. Along the, rear and at each side edge of the front, 1, the material of the same is turned outward and forms aflange, 4, which in turn is slightly curved, longitudinal with its edge, 5, to receive the back, 6, the same Specification of Letters Patent. Application llled December 31. 1906. Serial No. 350.127:

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

- being made inseparable by pressing the curve of the llange, 4, upon the back portion, thus A forming a snap or locked joint, tacks`or screws, 7, passing through the flange to secure the box to a building.

Dispensin with the curved {iange to secure the bac it would be .readily apparent that the screws or tacks would secure the parts together when fastened to a building, )ut by the provision of a locked joint along the sides of the box, better protection is afforded the contents against the elements.

In Fig. 2 is shown a blank from which the cover is formed, the dotted lines indicating where the material thereof is. bent to form thefinished product. Theend,8,of the blank is curved to form the lift-roll, the end, 9, to form the hinge roll and the stiHening rib. 16, The triangular edges, 10, are bent to form the sides, and the ears, 11, are bent te form the sto s for preventing the cover from longitu inal displacement when interlocked with the roll curve, 12, of the box. The ears, or stops, 1l, of the cover are bent after the roll, 9, of the cover is longitudinally introduced within the roll, 12, of the back, and prevents the parts from displacement; the parts 9 and 12 being thus interlocked form a hinge that prevents rain snow or dust from entering the box, and at the same time provides a hinge of simple and durable construction. Within the roll 12 of the back, the edge of the metal is curved similar to the edge, 16, of the cover roll, 9, and forms a secondary stiffening rib, 15', both the ribs of the rolled parts tending greatly to stiffen the interlocked parts.

In lieu of ears', 11, to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rolled hinged portions, 9 and 12, I have rovidedl a means to accomplish the desire effect by forming semi annular beads on the interlocked ortions, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In this instance the roll of the hinge, 9, is provided with a corrugation, 17, which -is adapted to fit within a corresponding corrugation, 18, within the roll, 12, of thev back.

It will be evident that if the back and cover were corrugated to interlock in but one place, itwould thoroughly prevent the parts from longitudinal displacement. However, the parts could be corrugated at intervals, or the whole length of the hinged connection, as mi 'ht be deemed expedient.

forming the parts 17 and 18, they areagainst the front thereof, I'provide apaperf holding clasp, D. This clasp comprlses an outwardly-curved loop of spring wire, near the lower end of which coils, 13,-are formed, the ends, 14, of the loop thence bending-upwardly and inwardly and being received within the open ends of the roll, 3, respectively, at the lower end of the box. As the coils, 13, are arranged to hang below the bottom of the box and against the backing to which the box may be attached and the coils are curved upwardly and outwardly, the loop of the clasp is made to impinge the front of the box very tightly and forms a quick and firm means for placing and holding paper and similar parcels.-

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, I have rovided a box of simple convenient and urable construction, and one whereby the parts may be packed in a knocked-down condition and be readily reassembled by a person of ordinary intelligence without the aid of special tools.

Having, therefore, set forth my invention, what I clnaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. .In a mail box, the combination with a back portion having an inwardly-rolled top edge and a cover having a rolled upper edge adapted to interlock within said rolled top edge to form a hinge, the longitudinal edges of the interlocked parts being curved acutely to form stiffening ribs, and means to prevent said arts from longitudinal displacement, as and or the purpose set forth.

2. In a mail box, a back portionrovided at its bottom and top with outwarr ly-rolled edges, a front portion having inwardly-bent sides with outwardly-flaring -edges and a' rolled lower edge adapted to interlock within the bottom rol of the back, a cover having a rolled upper ed e adapted to Vinterlock within the upper ro l of the back and yforni a hinge, and means to prevent said parts from portion, and a rol ed lower edge adapted to lnterlock within, the bottom roll of the back portion, a cover having downwardly-Haring sides, a rolled front edge, a -rolled upper edge ada ted to 'interlock within the upper roll of the back and form a hinge, ears formed at eitherend of the upper cover roll to preventl the same from longitudinal dis lacement with the back portion, y.substantia y as, and for the purpose setvforth.

4. vr-Ihe combination with a mail box, of a detachable Wire loop having an outwardly Haring up er extremity adapted to bear against sai box, said loop having oppositelydisposed coils falling below said box and terminating in upwardly and inwardly-curved ends Aadapted to engage openings in the sides of said box to secure the same thereto, as, and for the purpose set forth. Y

5. In a mail box, the combination" with a back portion havingan inwardly-rolledtop edge and a cover having adapted to interlock within said rol of the back portion, annular-shaped convex ribs formed on said rolled top edge of the back.

portion, and annular-shaped convex ribs formed on the rolled upper edge of said cover,

the ribs of said cover portion adapted .to interlock within the ribs of said back portlon, substantially as, and for the purpose set K forth.

6. In a mail box, the combination with the lower end thereof terminating in an open-ended roll, a wire loop adapted to bear .f

against the front of said box, said loopl having oppositely-disposed coils falling below said box and ada ted to bear against a backing to which saiV box may be attached, the free ends of said loop curving upwardly and inwardly and adapted to engage within the respective ends of said open-ended rfoll, substantially as, and for the ur ose set forth.

- NATHANIEL SL'IPONSTALL.

Witnesses:

H. F. WINGATE, F. H. WINGATE. 

